31/07/2025

Meditation can help people with depression and insomnia live a healthy life. (SOKMEAN CHHOUR)






I started meditation on July 19.
Every day, I meditate at the Phnom Penh Meditation Center.
When I am busy, I join Zoom meditation online.
If I have time, I go to the center.

I also run on the treadmill for 30 minutes every day.

On Saturday, July 26, I joined a 5km running event 
called "Miles for Mother Charity Run" with my friends 
from the Phnom Penh Meditation Center.
It was my first time joining a running event.

I have been struggling with depression for 1 year and 6 months.
It was hard to breathe and hard to sleep.
I took 4 pills every night.

The medicine helped me sleep, but I had many dreams during sleep.

On July 27, the doctor told me I only need to take 2 pills now.

The amazing thing is, I can sleep well without dreams.
I think I will stop taking medicine completely soon.
My depression is getting much better.

I am still a beginner in meditation,
but I hope many people try meditation like me.

It can help people with depression and insomnia live a healthy life.

SOKMEAN CHHOUR





30/07/2025

Why am I concerned about how others see me?



Why am I concerned about how others see me? 


I reflected on this and realized that 
I was trapped in the words others said about me. 

When my mom's friend visiting 
our house would say, 
"You're such a good girl," 
then I would feel trapped in those words 
and try to be a good girl. 

Similarly, when friends at school would say, 
"You're so mature," 
I would feel trapped in those words 
and try to act mature. 

Now, I regret it. 

I regret the days when I tried to live 
as the "me" that other saw.



Through meditation. I found my true self. 

By letting go of the me perceived by others, 
by letting go of the idealized version of myself, 
by letting go of the socially desirable me, 
only my true essence remained. 

Because I am just me, beyond concepts 
of good and bad, right and wrong,
because I am not swayed by other's words.
because I am not pretending 
to be someone I am not, 
existing as myself is as comfortable 
as wearing fitting clothes. 

I'm happy now as I am.

29/07/2025

One’s Capacity for Receiving Blessings





One’s Capacity for Receiving Blessings





Do not blame, cry, and laugh 
for your blessings.
If you cry and laugh for Truth, 
you are the blessed one. 


If you blame, cry, and laugh for yourself, 
you are the unblessed. 

For a person who has falsness in his mind, 
his false mind drives out the blessings, 
and thus, those blessings cannot remain;
blessings do not come to him. 

One who cries and laughs for Truth 
is a person who is blessed. 
One who laughs and cries for himself 
is the unfortunate one without blessings. 

Do not try to find blessings outside; 
when the mind of the self does not exist
your true mind is the bowl in which you can receive 
blessings when you have 'blessings bowl'. 


A person lives life according to 
what he has in his mind; 
if a person seeks blessings without 
having any within, he is a poor fool.

The mind is the self, 
and the body and mind are one; 
a person speaks and does 
according to what he has in his mind. 

Thus, one who does not have Truth in his mind 
cannot gain recognition from others 
because people do not believe him. 

One who does not have Truth in his mind 
cannot receive blessings 
even though they are given to him; 
he dose not have a big enough bowl
for to receive his blessings.


Book Reference: The Way to Become a Person In Heaven While Living (Page 382)

With Honesty but Without Respect





With Honesty but Without Respect




Honesty is often praised as a virtue, 
but without respect, it can be more harmful than helpful. 

When we speak the truth without care for how it lands, 
we may end up cutting others with our words. 

Brutal honesty is still brutality. 
If your truth makes someone feel small, worthless, or ashamed, 
then it’s just your ego speaking louder than your heart.

Respect doesn't mean hiding the truth.
It means delivering it in a way 
the other person can receive and grow from. 

Respectful honesty helps people see 
what they couldn't see, 
without making them feel attacked. 

It builds trust. 
It opens space for change. 
But when honesty lacks respect, 
it breaks down connection.

People stop listening.
They shut down.

Even if your words are true, 
they lose their power 
when your tone carries judgment, 
superiority, or coldness. 

In a world full of lies, 
the demand for truth is necessary. 

Yet, we must never overlook respect. 
True coexistence is possible only 
when honesty and respect go hand in hand.

How to Expand Your Capacity for stress




Expand Your Mind: A Simple Way to Handle Stress Better


Have you ever felt like life is just too much? Like, your stress is too big to handle?

Let’s use a simple example to understand this better.

Imagine stress is a ball. Now, try to put that ball into two different bottles:

One is small.
One is big.

In the small bottle, the ball doesn’t fit well. It feels tight and ready to burst. But in the big bottle, the ball fits easily. No pressure. No problem.

Here’s the lesson:
The problem isn’t the stress. 
The problem is how much space we have inside to hold it.

How to Expand Your Capacity for Stress

We all face challenges, pain, and pressure. But if we grow our minds and hearts, we can hold more without breaking.


Take a moment to ask yourself:

What past pain or trauma are you still carrying?
Who do you blame or feel anger toward?
What feels too big or too scary to deal with?
These questions help us understand what’s filling up our “bottle” right now.

The Power of a Bigger Mind

When your mind is small and tight, even little problems feel huge.
But when your mind is open and wide, even big problems feel small.

This is the goal of meditation and mindfulness — to make your mind feel as big as the sky.
Peaceful. Calm. Spacious.

No matter how hard life gets, if your inner space grows, you can handle anything.

Why This Matters for Your Mental Health

Many people think stress is the enemy. But stress is just a sign that your capacity is full.
Instead of fighting stress, grow your ability to hold it.

This shift can change your life.

You’ll feel more calm.
You’ll react with wisdom, not fear.
You’ll have more energy and peace.
Try This Simple Mindfulness Practice

Here’s an easy way to start:

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
Picture your mind as a bottle. How full is it?
Imagine it growing bigger — like a balloon, or a sky with no end.
Let go of one heavy thought. Just for now.
Breathe again, and feel yourself relax.
Do this every day, even for just 2 minutes. Over time, your capacity grows.

Join a meditation class in the right place to learn how to clean your mind.

Final Thoughts

Stress will always be part of life. But it doesn’t have to control you.

By expanding your mind, your heart, and your awareness, you give yourself more space to breathe, heal, and grow. You become like the big bottle — strong, open, and ready for anything.

This is true stress relief. This is real peace.

28/07/2025

Expand Your Capacity - let go and expand your capacity





Expand Your Capacity




Let's call this ball stress and try putting it into a small bottle and a big bottle. 
The small bottle will struggle to contain it. 

It'll feel tight and overwhelmed, but the big bottle it holds with ease. 

There's a lesson here. 
The problem isn't the stress itself. 
It's the size of our mind's capacity to handle it. 

Take a moment to close your eyes and reflect on your life. 

What are the traumas and unforgettable wounds you still carry? 
Who do you still blame or feel resentment toward? 
What feels too heavy or frightening to face? 

No matter how overwhelming a problem seems, 
if your mind expands beyond its limits, 
it will never weigh you down. 

You will handle it with wisdom and ease, 
making your life richer.
Instead of struggling in a small, confined mind,
let go and expand your capacity. 

This is our meditation practice. 
Making our minds as wide and limitless as the universe.

26/07/2025

Meditation & Running - Miles for Mother Charity Fun Run on July 26, 2025














1. Meditation & Running — July 26, 2025


We had a wonderful time at the Miles for Mother Charity Fun Run on July 26, 2025! 🏃‍♂️💖

We were happy to join the event as a sponsor and take part in the running event.
A big thank you to the amazing event organizers for giving us this chance to connect with so many kind people.

We are also very grateful to all the runners who ran with us and to our awesome team members. 🙏✨
Your energy and smiles made the day so special!

If there’s another event in the future, we will definitely join and provide our support as much as possible. 💪🌟

Together we can do it. 
We can do everything.

"Clean Mind Happy Life"

A calm mind. 
A strong body. 
A joyful life.☀️






2. Join Us for "Run for Health and Fun"! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️


Dear Phnom Penh Meditation Members,

Let’s come together for a special event 
— Miles For Mothers Charity Run for Health and Fun!
It’s a great chance to enjoy running, stay healthy, and meet amazing people in our community.

🗓 Date: Sat. 26 July, 2026
📍 Location: Eco Park, Borey Peng Houth Grandstar Platinum, Beoung Snor
🕘 Time: 6am (Set table...etc) / 6.20am warm-up / 6.30am start 6km

Why join?
Have fun while running 🏃‍♀️
Improve your health 💪
Connect with kind and positive people 😊
Feel fresh and happy through movement and meditation 🧘‍♂️
Everyone is welcome! 
Let’s make happy memories together.
Don’t miss it!

Please let us know if you will join. See you there!

With love,
Phnom Penh Meditation Team 💛